Developing apparatus for photographic plates.



No. 744,376. PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

J. D. LYON.

DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIO PLATES.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 19, 1903.

110 110mm 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Winesses: jhvenfoz? PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

J. D. LYON. DEVELOPING APPAEATUs FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG PLATES.

APPLI ATION FILED JAN.19. 1903.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

WWZISSQ:

. UNITED STATES Patented November 17, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE D. LYON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 744,376, dated November1'7, 1903. Application filed January 19, 1903. Serial No. 139.511. (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom (it may concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE D. LYON, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing atPittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDeveloping Apparatus for Photographic Plates, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is aview in side elevation of my improved developing apparatus forphotographic plates. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view indicated bythe line II II of Fig. 6, the fixing-bath vessel being indicated indotted lines. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view indicated bythe line III III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a longitudinal sectional viewshowing the interior of the apparatus with the surrounding light-proofhood in position for receiving the plate. Fig. 5 is a similar Viewshowing the negative immersed in the developing-bath. Fig. 6 is apartial similar view showing the negative raised and the fixingbathvessel being inserted upwardly to receive the plate.

My invention consists of an apparatus for developing photographic platesindependent of a dark room; and it consists in an inclosing box orreceptacle provided with a plateholder adapted to be manipulated in theinterior thereof and also having oppositely-arranged panes forintercepting actinic rays, by which the plate may be examined from theoutside.

Referring to the drawings, 2 represents the main surrounding walls ofthe stationary portion of the apparatus, provided on one side with oneor more slides for the insertion of ruby or other non-actinic pane 3.

4 is a movable portion of the device, preferably attached by a pivot orhinge at 5 to the body portion 2 and also provided with one or morenon-actinic panes 6.

The glasses or panes 2 and 6 are so located and arranged that when theapparatus is closed they will be approximately opposite each other, sothat the plate in the interior may be observed when raised to theposition shown in Fig. 6 or when lowered, as in Fig. 5, by placing thesource of light, either natural or artificial, on the side of the boxoppo" site to the observer.

Light is prevented from entering the interior at hinge-joint 5 by aflexible covering 7, of rubber or other suitable material or means. Themovable portion 4: is hinged to the main body portion, as shown in theprincipal figures of the drawings, and is adapted to be opened away fromthe main inclosing body portion sufficiently far to allow of theinsertion of the plate, as shown in Fig. 4, being protected from thelight by a surrounding covering. lVhile transferring it into theinterior of the fixing-bath vessel, as shown in Fig. 6, the opening tothe interior is closed by such vessel itself.

The movable portion is provided with a swinging negativeholderconsisting of two sides 8 8, mounted on a turning or manipulating shaftor stem 9, having a bearing in the sides of the movable portion andprovided at one side with an exterior turning handle or lever 10. Thesearms 8 may be adjustably secured to the stem in any suitable manner, asby set-screws, thereby allowing them to be set in or out for varyingsizes of plates. The arms 8 are resilient or otherwise adapted to closeinwardly on the edges of the plate and are provided on their inner faceswith platereceiving slots 11 and outwardly-deflected bearing extremities12. The holder-arms as thus made are adapted to be separated outwardlyby inserting the plate and to bind inwardly against its sides to firmlyhold it when thus inserted, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6..

At its lower portion the main case is provided with a developing-fluidcavity 13,which may be merely an integral lower portion of the main box,or it may consist of a removable pan 14, adapted to interfit with thelower portion of the box, so as to provide a reser- Voir for the fluid.

The advantages of a removable panis that it facilitates washing of theparts or renewal of the bath. A pouring-funnel 15 may be also providedfor supplying or removing the fluid.

During the operation of inserting the plate the opening portion of theapparatus is surrounded by a flexible light-proof hood or lind 16,provided with armholes 17, within which hood the plate may beconveniently removed from the plate-holder and inserted between theholder-arms 8 in slots 11.

By turning shaft or stem 9 the holdingarms may be raised, the movableportion 4 closed down upon the main box, as in Fig. 5,

. and the hood removed, whereupon the plate may be lowered into thedeveloping-bath and from time to time raised upwardly, as indicated indotted lines in Fig. 5, for the purpose of inspection, or its surfacemay be observed when lowered in the bath, asin Fig. 5.

The bath 13 is comparatively shallow, allowing the operator to inspectthe plate when horizontally immersed therein.

When fully developed, the holding-frame is raised to the uprightposition, as shown in Fig. 6, and the fixing-bath vessel 18 is insertedupwardly, bearing against beveled faces 19 and 20, forming portions ofthe mee ing sides of the stationary and movable portions, forcing themovable portion outwardly, or such portion being moved by hand as far asnecessary. Upon further upward movement the vessel 18 will come intocontact with the outwardly-turned extremities 12 of the frame, forcingthem farther apart, releasing the sides of the holder from the plate,when it will be dropped downwardly into the fixing-bath.

It will be observed that the operation of thus inserting the fixingvessel entirely prevents the entrance of light, and while the fixingstep of the operation is not necessarily confined to this mode ofoperation I have found it very convenient and practicable. It will beunderstood that the fixing vessel may be dispensed with and the negativeremoved by hand or otherwise and fixed in any other vessel, as is theusual practice.

As thus constructed the device is practically proof against actinic raysof'light, rendering the operation of developing possible without the useof a dark room, as the manipulation of the plate is carried on entirelywithin the isolated chamber.

Where under-exposed plates are developed, requiring a long immersion,they may be allowed to remain in the bath, examined from time to timewithout the usual inconvenience to the operator of having to remain inthe dark room, the negative accurately and frequently observed byraising it into range of vision between the opposite glasses, and thenecessary time for developing may be accurately judged.

The advantages of my invention may be made in the design, construction,proportions, or other details by the skilled mechanic without departingfrom the invention, and all such are to be considered as within thescope of the following claims.

That I claim is 1. Adeveloping apparatus forphotographic platesconsisting ofan inclosing case provided with a developing-bath, and amovable plateholder provided with arms adapted to engage the oppositeedges of the plate and to immerse it horizontally in the bath,substantially as set forth.

2. Adeveloping apparatus for photographic plates consisting of aninclosing case provided with a developing-bath, and a movableplateholder provided with arms adapted to engage the opposite edges ofthe plate and to immerse it horizontally in the bath, and to support itverticallyabove the bath, substantially as set forth.

3. A developing apparatus for photographic plates consisting of aninclosing case provided with oppositely-arranged windows and adeveloping-bath, and a movable plate-holder provided with arms adaptedto engage the opposite edges of the plate and to immerse it horizontallyin the bath and to support it above the bath between the windows,substantially as set forth.

at. Adeveloping apparatus for photographic plates, consisting of aninclosing case provided with a developing-bath and oppositelyarrangedwindows, and a pivoted plate-holder having spring-arms,substantially asset forth.

5. A developing apparatus for photographic plates comprising aninclosing case provided with oppositely-arranged windows, adeveloping-bath, and a movable frame consisting of spring-arms providedwith grooves adapted to receive and hold the plate, substantially as setforth.

6. A developing apparatus for photographic plates comprising aninclosing case provided with oppositely-arranged windows, adeveloping-bath, and a movable frame consisting of spring-arms providedwith grooves, and a turning shaft therefor, substantially as set forth.

7. Adeveloping apparatus for photographic plates comprising an inclosingcase provided with oppositely-arranged windows, a developing-bath, and amovable frame consisting of spring-arms provided with grooves, adaptedto receive and hold the plate, and having outwardly-turned extremities,substantially as set forth.

8. Adeveloping apparatus forphotographic plates consisting of a maincase provided with a developing-bath, a movable portion forming a partof the case, and a plate-holder carried by the movable portion,substantially as set forth.

9. Adeveloping apparatus for photographic plates consisting of a maincase provided with a developing-bath, a movable portion forming part ofthe case, and a plate-holder mounted on a turning stem carried by themovable portion, substantially as set forth.

10. A developing apparatus for photographic plates consisting of a maincase provided with a developing-bath, a movable portion forming a partof the case, a plate-holder consisting of spring-arms provided withreceiving-slots, and a turning stem therefor, substantially as setforth.

11. A developing apparatus for photo- 10 with a shallow developing-bathand observation-Windows, with means for gripping the plate by its edgesand holding it horizontally in and vertically out of the bath, the platebeing observable in either position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JESSE -D. LYON.

Witnesses:

J AS. J. MOAEEE, G. M. CLARKE.

